How Not to Lose Your Motivation as an Entrepreneur [Sponsored Post]

Motivation is like oxygen to entrepreneurs. Without it, business ideas and ventures are pretty much dead. Most aspiring entrepreneurs are astoundingly motivated to succeed and make money. But this level of newbie entrepreneurship is difficult to sustain in the long run. Once you have been CEO of your company for a long time, it’s common to feel a lack of motivation.

Motivation is not a sales pitch for entrepreneurs. It’s a crucial aspect of doing business and actually succeeding, says Jason A. Sugarman. Mr. Sugarman is a successful private equity investor and a veteran financier. Losing motivation can be devastating to productivity and ultimately to success as well. Here are a few tips entrepreneurs can use to not lose motivation:

Write Down Personal Goals to Achieve

This is a neat trick Richard Branson has used all his life to stay motivated and achieve what he once thought impossible (like owning a private island). Branson has said that he is a devoted to-do list maker. Unlike most people, Branson’s to-do list doesn’t include the weekly groceries to buy. Rather, he lists down tasks he needs to accomplish, both big and small.

One of these lists may include practical things like “buy inventory for new studio”, or lofty goals like “learn to fly”. When Branson achieves a task, he ticks it off without erasing it entirely from the list. It shows how much he has accomplished and how much he has left to achieve, which keeps him motivated. Other entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to try this tactic and see how it works.

Contribute to Charity

It’s easy to stay motivated when you know what you do contributes to the greater good. This is what keeps Jason Sugarman motivated through various investment opportunities. Mr. Sugarman, along with his wife, donates profusely to health and education charities. He has donated millions of dollars over the years to the Fullerton school district to improve access to tech education for underprivileged kids. Charity investments are known to have uplifting effects on not just individual entrepreneurs, but entire companies as well. Giving to charity and committing to a cause is a great way to rally employees around a single course. For individual businesspeople who are seeking motivation, a higher purpose will help you regain focus.

Get Enough Sleep

It’s no longer fashionable to work all day with only 4 hours of sleep at night. Sleep deprivation is considered a health risk. If you don’t get enough sleep, you will be tired all day. Nothing is a bigger motivation killer than constant fatigue. If you want to stay driven and come up with new ideas, get at least 8 hours of sleep at night. Make it a non-negotiable aspect of your life. When you are well rested, you will be able to make better decisions and function productively. Isn’t that motivating?

Motivation can be fleeting. If you are an entrepreneur who is not motivated as before, use the above advice to get your sense of inspiration back. In addition, you can read books, especially by authors you admire, to get your motivation back.

Motivation is like oxygen to entrepreneurs. Without it, business ideas and ventures are pretty much dead. Most aspiring entrepreneurs are astoundingly motivated to succeed and make money. But this level of newbie entrepreneurship is difficult to sustain in the long run. Once you have been CEO of your company for a long time, it’s common to feel a lack of motivation.

Motivation is not a sales pitch for entrepreneurs. It’s a crucial aspect of doing business and actually succeeding, says Jason A. Sugarman. Mr. Sugarman is a successful private equity investor and a veteran financier. Losing motivation can be devastating to productivity and ultimately to success as well. Here are a few tips entrepreneurs can use to not lose motivation:

Write Down Personal Goals to Achieve

This is a neat trick Richard Branson has used all his life to stay motivated and achieve what he once thought impossible (like owning a private island). Branson has said that he is a devoted to-do list maker. Unlike most people, Branson’s to-do list doesn’t include the weekly groceries to buy. Rather, he lists down tasks he needs to accomplish, both big and small.

One of these lists may include practical things like “buy inventory for new studio”, or lofty goals like “learn to fly”. When Branson achieves a task, he ticks it off without erasing it entirely from the list. It shows how much he has accomplished and how much he has left to achieve, which keeps him motivated. Other entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to try this tactic and see how it works.

Contribute to Charity

It’s easy to stay motivated when you know what you do contributes to the greater good. This is what keeps Jason Sugarman motivated through various investment opportunities. Mr. Sugarman, along with his wife, donates profusely to health and education charities. He has donated millions of dollars over the years to the Fullerton school district to improve access to tech education for underprivileged kids. Charity investments are known to have uplifting effects on not just individual entrepreneurs, but entire companies as well. Giving to charity and committing to a cause is a great way to rally employees around a single course. For individual businesspeople who are seeking motivation, a higher purpose will help you regain focus.

Get Enough Sleep

It’s no longer fashionable to work all day with only 4 hours of sleep at night. Sleep deprivation is considered a health risk. If you don’t get enough sleep, you will be tired all day. Nothing is a bigger motivation killer than constant fatigue. If you want to stay driven and come up with new ideas, get at least 8 hours of sleep at night. Make it a non-negotiable aspect of your life. When you are well rested, you will be able to make better decisions and function productively. Isn’t that motivating?

Motivation can be fleeting. If you are an entrepreneur who is not motivated as before, use the above advice to get your sense of inspiration back. In addition, you can read books, especially by authors you admire, to get your motivation back.